Tartar on Teeth: What Is Dental Calculus and How to Prevent It

What is That Hard Stuff on My Teeth?

Do you have hard stuff on your teeth? This hard stuff is called tartar. Some people call it dental calculus. It is not the math kind of calculus! Tartar is hard and it sticks to your teeth. It can be yellow or brown. It forms when soft plaque gets hard.

Tartar can form very fast! It only takes 24-72 hours for plaque to turn into tartar. That is just 1-3 days! This is why we must clean our teeth every day.

Let me tell you all about tartar. I will help you know what it is, why it is bad, and how to stop it.

Types of Tartar

There are two main types of tartar:

1. Tartar above the gums – You can see this kind. It is on the parts of teeth you can see when you smile.
2. Tartar below the gums – This kind hides under your gums. It is more dangerous because you cannot see it.

About 42% of adults have tartar on their teeth. That means almost half of all grown-ups have this problem!

How Tartar Forms on Teeth

Here is how tartar forms:

1. First, you eat food.
2. Tiny bugs (bacteria) in your mouth mix with food.
3. This mix makes a soft, sticky film called plaque.
4. If you do not brush the plaque away, it gets hard.
5. Hard plaque is now tartar!

Once plaque turns to tartar, you cannot brush it off. Only a dentist or dental hygienist can take it off.

Why Tartar is Bad for Your Teeth and Gums

Tartar causes many problems for your mouth:

• Makes teeth look yellow or brown
• Causes bad breath
• Hurts your gums
• Can make teeth fall out
• Can cause heart problems

When tartar stays on your teeth, it can lead to gum disease. About 47.2% of adults over 30 have gum disease. That is a lot of people!

Tartar gives bad bugs a rough place to hide and grow. These bugs make your gums red, puffy, and they can bleed when you brush. This is called gingivitis. If not fixed, it can get worse and turn into periodontitis.

People who smoke get three times more tartar than people who do not smoke. If you smoke, it is even more important to take good care of your teeth!

How the Dentist Removes Tartar

Only a dentist or dental hygienist can remove tartar. They use special tools to take it off. This is what happens:

1. They use a tool called an ultrasonic scaler that vibrates really fast
2. The tool breaks up the hard tartar
3. They use small hand tools to scrape off any leftover bits
4. They polish your teeth to make them smooth

Getting tartar removed costs about $150-$350 if you don’t have insurance. That is a lot of money! It is much cheaper to stop tartar before it forms.

Some people try to scrape off tartar at home. This is a bad idea! About 22% of people who try this hurt their teeth. Never use sharp things on your teeth at home!

7 Best Ways to Prevent Tartar

The best thing is to stop tartar before it starts! Here are 7 ways to prevent tartar:

1. Brush Your Teeth Well

Brush your teeth two times every day for two minutes each time. Use a soft brush. Electric toothbrushes work 21% better than regular ones.

Make sure to brush:

• The fronts of teeth
• The backs of teeth
• The tops of teeth
• Near the gums (this is where plaque likes to hide!)

2. Use Floss Every Day

Flossing cleans between teeth where your brush cannot reach. Plaque loves to hide between teeth!

Steps for good flossing:

• Use about 18 inches of floss
• Hold it tight between your fingers
• Slide it up and down between each tooth
• Make a “C” shape around each tooth

3. Use Mouthwash

Antiseptic mouthwash can kill the bugs that make plaque. Use it after brushing and flossing.

4. Use Special Toothpaste

Some toothpastes help fight tartar. Look for ones that say “tartar control” on the box. People who use these toothpastes get 35% less tartar in 6 months!

5. Drink Lots of Water

Water helps wash away food and bugs in your mouth. It also helps make more spit (saliva). Spit is good! It helps clean your mouth and stops acids from hurting your teeth.

6. Be Careful What You Eat

Some foods are bad for your teeth:

• Sweet foods and drinks
• Sticky foods that stay on teeth
• Acidic foods that can hurt tooth enamel

Try to eat more:

• Crunchy fruits and vegetables (they help clean teeth)
• Cheese (it helps make your mouth less acidic)
• Sugar-free gum (it makes more spit)

7. Go to the Dentist Regularly

Visit your dentist every 6 months. They will:

• Clean off any tartar
• Check for problems
• Give you tips for your teeth

Special Tools that Help Fight Tartar

Some special tools can help you fight tartar at home:

Using a water flosser is a great way to clean between teeth! Studies show it can reduce tartar by 60%.[^11]

Special Cases: Braces and Dry Mouth

If you have braces, you need to be extra careful about tartar. Plaque can hide around the metal parts. Use special brushes made for braces.

For people with dry mouth, tartar forms faster because there is less spit. If you have dry mouth:

• Drink more water
• Chew sugar-free gum
• Ask your doctor about special products for dry mouth
• Use a Hard Soft Night Guard if you grind your teeth at night, which can make dry mouth worse

At-Home Care vs. Professional Care

Here is what you can do at home and what only dentists can do:

You can do at home:

• Brush twice a day
• Floss daily
• Use mouthwash
• Eat healthy foods

Only dentists can do:

• Remove tartar (scaling)
• Deep cleaning under gums
• Fix cavities caused by tartar
• Treat gum disease

Some people think they can scrape tartar off at home. This is dangerous! You could hurt your gums or teeth. Always let the dentist remove tartar.

Common Questions About Tartar

When to See a Dentist

You should see a dentist right away if you have:

• Bleeding gums when you brush or floss
• Red, swollen gums
• Bad breath that won’t go away
• Loose teeth
• Pain when chewing

These could be signs of gum disease from tartar. The dentist can help fix these problems.

If you already have lots of tartar, you might need a deep cleaning. This is called scaling and root planing. It cleans under your gums. Sometimes dentists use lasers for this too.

Your dentist might suggest using a Soft Night Guard if you grind your teeth. Grinding can make tartar problems worse.

Taking Care of Your Teeth Every Day

The best way to fight tartar is to stop it before it starts! Here is what to do every day:

Morning Routine:

• Brush for 2 minutes
• Floss between all teeth
• Rinse with mouthwash

After Meals:

• Rinse your mouth with water
• Chew sugar-free gum if you can’t brush

Night Routine:

• Brush for 2 minutes (very important!)
• Floss all teeth
• Use mouthwash
• Use any special tools your dentist gave you

Why Prevention is Better Than Treatment

It is much better to prevent tartar than to treat problems it causes. Here’s why:

1. It costs less money – Preventing tartar costs much less than fixing problems from tartar.
2. It hurts less – Preventing tartar doesn’t hurt at all. Treating gum disease can hurt.
3. It keeps your teeth – Preventing tartar helps you keep your teeth for life.
4. It’s easier – Daily brushing and flossing are easy once they become habits.

Summary: The Fight Against Tartar

Tartar (dental calculus) is hardened plaque that forms when we don’t clean our teeth well. It can cause many problems from bad breath to losing teeth.

Here’s what to remember:

• Plaque turns to tartar in just 1-3 days
• About 42% of adults have tartar problems
• Only dentists can remove tartar once it forms
• The best defense is good daily cleaning
• Visit your dentist every 6 months

By following the steps in this article, you can win the fight against tartar! Your teeth and gums will be healthier, and your smile will look better too.

Remember: clean teeth are happy teeth!